Bell Atlantic Names Dan Petri President -International Telecommunications

Bell Atlantic Names Dan Petri President -
International Telecommunications

Bell Atlantic announced today that Daniel C. Petri
has been named president - International Telecommunications,
effective Nov. 15.

November 9, 1998

NEW YORK -- Bell Atlantic (NYSE:BEL) announced today that Daniel
C. Petri has been named president - International Telecommunications,
effective Nov. 15.

He assumes responsibility for Bell Atlantic's international wireline
investments currently held by John F. Killian, who has been named head
of Investor Relations.

Petri has been president of Bell Atlantic Global Systems since the Bell
Atlantic-NYNEX merger in August 1997, with responsibility for
development of the corporation's capabilities for global connectivity,
including its investment in FLAG (Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe), the
world's longest undersea fiber optic cable system. In his new position he
will oversee all of Bell Atlantic's portfolio of wireline investments, which
has an estimated market value of more than $4 billion and includes stakes
in Cable and Wireless Communications in the United Kingdom, Telecom
Corp. of New Zealand, TelecomAsia in Thailand and Bayan
Telecommunications Corp. in the Philippines.

Petri will report to Frederic V. Salerno, Bell Atlantic senior executive vice
president and Chief Financial Officer.

"Dan's international experience literally spans dozens of countries around
the world," Salerno said. "He is a natural choice to carry out our
international wireline strategies, enhance our relationships with our
partners, and develop our investments' value."

Before the merger, Petri served for several years as president of NYNEX
Global Systems, with responsibility for the project management,
construction and marketing of the FLAG system. In a 27-year career with
Bell Atlantic companies, Petri has also served as managing director -
Worldwide Operations for NYNEX as well as general manager of
customer care operations in midtown Manhattan and central New York
State.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and eight
million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.